Looks like HDR. I like it, I agree with the clouds, white would add some pop. I just love the second one, wouldn't change a thing. Very nice work on both.
 

I love the coloring and lighting on the 2nd one.
And I like the fact that she's looking off to the left, it gives it some tension.
 

First I will say that I have never commented on a photo. I love photography, but I am also pretty new to it. I have been told several times that I have an "eye" for beauty.. and so on. So, please take my observation with a grain of salt, but my thought's were:
Photo 1.
I think the clouds really do need to be there, and it would feel too empty without them. I also like the edge or glow around the church. (I look forward to learning more about how to do this) The purple I wasn't sure about at first, but then decided I loved it. The church appears so bold and "strong".. Beautiful, I love it.
Photo 2.
Something in me didn't like that she was looking left. I don't know why. But she's beautiful. I also didn't like the princess logo, I felt like it took something away from her. I want "more", like another photo of her looking at the camera. Over all, I liked both photo's.
Thanks.
 

Here are my thoughts on the pictures.. great work..
Churches make such stong statements in pictures to me. I would like the picture with or without the clouds.. good job:)
Picture 2 is a reflection picture to me. I seems that she is in some sort of deep thought. She is proably only distracted, but looks like she is in a refledtion mode.. good pic.. I like the look.:)
 

I actually love both photos. I can see what you did to get the cloud effect on the first one. It gives me a feeling of movement and depth of the clouds but yet feels as if the clouds are looming over the church as well. I really like the 1st picture. I love the second picture. Its a fade to darker in background with a grainy texture. The little girl though has a beautiful soft sharp look, with soft lighting accenting her face. Beautiful! Good job on both!
 

Both of these are amazing! The old church is fasinating. I say good call on the glowing edit! It breaks up the surrounding darkness just enough to highlight the church but not steal from the over all photo. Being a christian that photo speaks to me. When I first saw it I immediatly thought of that verse of scripture where it sayes that the light peirces the darkness. It just spoke so clearly to me!

The second one I just have to say I love the color and lighting! How you managed to capture such an amazing emotive face from such a young subject will amaze me all day ^_^. And the profile of those chubby cheeks are just too adorable. Its different from any other picture Ive ever seen taken of a child. They are usually all bright and frilly, which I am in no way knocking, but this has such a unique tone to it! I'd be pleased with this as a mother!

I say great job on both!
 

i love the contrast and colour on 1. i think it needs the clouds, perhaps some work could be done on them, but i feel they need to be there. i have a photo of a church taken nr. Phoenix in Az and i see some similarities of "atmosphere"...i need to play with colour and contrast on it a bit i think!

2. good lighting, love the expression on the little girl's face, it is a great shot.
interesting though, what Tina said in her comment - though she's new to photography she picked up on something i did - the direction the girl is looking. to me personally it's not a problem but if entered into a competition you can be sure a judge would say that she should be looking INTO the picture, not OUT of it. i think it asks an interesting question: what is she looking at? but we can see it's a point some people are happy with, while others don't think it works.
 

great job on boath!! number 2 raally speeks to me great shot!!